Strap removal tool

ABSTRACT

A tool for removing strap such as steel strap from encircling relationship about a strapped object such as a package or bundle. The tool includes a slotted end portion adapted to receive the strap and a torqueing portion adapted to be manually turned to effect a breaking of the strap and a rolling up of the strap on the end portion. The tool further includes manually operable means for expedited removal of the rolled strap from the tool subsequent to the removal of the strap from about the object.

United States Patent Galdlno Ursetta Chlcago, 111.

Nov. 21, 1969 Aug. 17, 1971 l-T-E Imperial Corporation Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee STRAP REMOVAL TOOL 10 Claims, 4 Drawing 1 1 U.S.CL 30/128, songs in. C1 n2sr1/04 FieldofSeai-ch 30/1,!24,

[ References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,711,109 6/1955 Gillstrom 30/165 X 2,719,358 10/1955 Lassen Primary Examiner-Robert C. Riordon Assiqant Examiner-J. C. Peters Attorney-Hofgren, Wegner, Allen, Stellman and McCord ABSTRACT: A tool for removing strap such as steel strap from encircling relationship about a strapped object such as a package or bundle. The tool includes a slotted end portion adapted to receive the strap and a torqueing portion adapted to be manually turned to effect a breaking of the strap and a rolling up of the strap on the end portion The tool further includes manually operable means for expedited removal of the rolled strap from the tool subsequent to the removal of the strap from about the object.

PATENTEB AUG] 7 Isa STRAP REMOVAL TOOL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to strapped packaging and in particular to means for removing strapping from such packaging.

2. Description of the Prior Art In one conventional strap removing tool, means are provided for cutting the strap. After the strap is cut, other tools are employed for pulling the strap'from about and out from under the packaged object. Conventionally, pliers and the like are employed for such purposes. Because of the sharp edges of such strap which are conventionally formed of steel, the removal of such straps presents a potential hazard of serious injury to the person attempting to remove the strapping.

Where the strapped object of bundle is relatively heavy, substantial force may be necessary to effect the withdrawal of the straps from under the strapped object, thus further heightening the possibility of serious injury in case of mishap in the removing operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprehends an improved tool for removing strap from such a strapped object effectively eliminating the potential hazards of the conventional strap removing means in a novel and simple manner. More specifically, the present invention comprehends the provision of such a tool having a torque shaft provided with means at one end for separating the strap and subsequently wrapping the strap thereonto while withdrawing it from encircling relationship with the strapped object. The torque shaft is provided at the opposite end with a suitable handle for providing the necessary mechanical advantage to effect the strap removing operations at a substantial distance from the strap engaging end, thereby substantially reducing chance of mishap in removal of the strap.

The invention further comprehends the provision in such a tool of improved means for removing the strap from the tool. More specifically, the removing means may comprise a member movably mounted on the torque shaft for engagement with the strap wrapped on the torque shaft end for stripping the wrapped strap therefrom. The strap removing means may define a collar on the torque shaft and may be biased to a retracted position by suitable spring means.

The torque is preferably formed of a lightweight material such as aluminum for facilitated manipulation of the tool. The means for operating the strap in the illustrated embodiment comprises a cutting head formed of a wear resistant material such as steel. The cutting head may be provided with a slotted end defining sharp cutting edges and adapted to receive the strap in the strap removing operation. The tool may be arranged to provide sufficient strap breaking force without cutting action ifso desired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. I is a perspective view of a strapped object illustrating an initial step in the use of the strap removing tool of the present invention in removing the strap from the object;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to that of FIG. 1 illustrating a subsequent step in the strap removing operation;

FIG. 3 is a broken side view of the strap removing tool; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged elevation thereof with portions shown in diametric section.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A strap removing tool generally designated 10 is shown for use in removing straps 11 from a strapped single or multipiece object 12. As shown in FIG. 1, the straps are conventionally applied in encircling relationship about the object 12. The removal of such straps requires a severing of the straps and a subsequent withdrawal therefrom from the encircling relationship. Tool 10 effects the severance and the withdrawal in a novel and simple manner as discussed here following.

More specifically, tool 10 includes a torque shaft 13 preferably formed of a lightweight material such as aluminum tubing. The length of torque shaft 13 is preselected to provide a substantial spacing between one end 14 provided with a torqueing handle 15 and the opposite end 16 provided with a strap-engaging element 17 thereby to provide maximum safety in the use of the tool in removing the straps 11. Tool I0 further includes a strap stripping element 18 movably carried on shaft 13 intermediate ends 14 and 16 and adapted to engage straps 11 on strap-engaging element 17 for stripping the strap therefrom for final disposition. The stripping element 18 similarly is arranged to provide maximum safety in thestripping operation to minimize potential injury to the user in the strap removing operations.

Handle 15 herein comprises a suitable rod extending diametrically through the shaft end 14 and has a length suitable to provide a mechanical advantage in torqueing the shaft 13 sufficient to permit manual severing andwrapping operations in removing the strap from object 12.

Strap-engaging element 17 effectively comprises a cutting and wrapping head and is preferably formed of a strong material such as steel for transferring the substantial forces involving in the strap removing operation. Element 17 is provided with a longitudinal slot 19 opening through the distal end 20 for receiving the strap edgewise therein as shown in FIG. 3. Element 17 includes a reduced diameter shank end 21 received in the shaft end 16 and secured thereto by suitable securing means, such as rivet 22 as shown in FIG. 4, for fixed mounting of the element 17 on shaft end 16. 3

Outer surfaces 23 of element 17 may be right circularly cylindrical, having a cross section diameter slightly greater than the outside cross section diameter of shaft end 16 and thereby defining a shoulder 24 facing toward shaft end 14. Stripping element 18 comprises a tubular collar element having a first end portion 25 slidably received on torque shaft 13 and an opposite end portion 26 opening toward element 17. End portion 26 is defined by an inner surface 27 having a diameter slightly greater than outer surface 23 of element 17 whereby portion 26 may be telescopically received over element 17 as shown in FIG. 4. Between portions 25 and 26, element 18 defines a radial shoulder 28 facing toward shoulder 24 on element 17. A coil spring 29 is coaxially disposed on shaft end 16 between shoulders 24 and 28.serving to bias stripping element 18 away from head element 17 as shown in FIG. 3, thereby maintaining head element 17 disposed for facilitated engagement with the strap as shown in FIG. 1. Further as shown in FIG. 2, the stripping element 18 may serve as a journal means for facilitating wrapping of the cut strap as desired. For facilitated manipulation of the stripping element 18, the element may be externally rough and in the illustrated embodiment, the stripping element is externally knurled, as best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4.

The use of tool 10 is extremely simple. The user firstly manipulates the tool to engage a portion of the strap II in the slot 19 of the head element I7 as shown in FIG. I. The edges 30 of the slot 19 may be made sharp so that upon a torqueing of the shaft 13, the edges 30 act to cut the strap 11. The mechanical advantage provided by handle 15 may be made sufficient to permit the breaking or severing of the strap 11 alternatively where the slot edges are sharp or rounded as desired.

After the strap is suitably severed as discussed above, the strap may be rolled; or wrapped onto head element 17 by a turning of the shaft 13 as shown in FIG. 2. The substantial forces which may be developed by tool 10 are sufficient to draw the strap from under the object 12 against the frictional retention thereof by the object resting on the subjacent supporting surface. Thus, it is unnecessary to raise the object 12 in conducting the strap moving operation.

Upon complete withdrawal of the strap from the object, the withdrawn strap may be discarded as desired by suitable transferfrom tool 10. To effect such transfer, the user merely urges stripping element 18 axially telescopically over head element 17, thereby engaging the wrapped strap 11a thereon as shown in FIG. 4, and urging the strap axially off the end of the head element. The wrapped strap may be delivered to a suitable disposal container as desired for facilitated disposal thereof. Upon release of the stripping element 18 subsequent to the removal of the wrapped strap from the tool, the tool automatically restores itself to the operating arrangement of FIG. I for further strap removal operations.

As discussed above, tool is extremely simple and economical of construction. The tool is relatively lightweight while yet providing the desirable strap cutting and withdrawing operations by simple manual operation of the tool. As discussed above, the tool provides for high safety in the use thereof in the potentially hazardous strap removal operations.

The foregoing disclosure of specific embodiments is illustrative of the broad inventive concepts comprehended by the invention.

I claim:

1. A tool for removing strap from encircling relationship about a strapped object, said tool comprising:

a torque shaft having an end;

strap-engaging means on said end defining a slot having an endopening lengthwise of said shaft for receiving the object encircling strap edgewise therethrough;

handle means on said shaft for providing a mechanical advantage in torqueing said shaft sufficiently to break the steel strap received in said slot and to wrap the broken strap onto said strap-engaging means thereby to draw the strap from said encircling relationship to the strapped object; and

stripping means movably associated with said strap-engaging means for movement alongside said strap-engaging means parallel to said slot for engaging the strap outwardly adjacent said slot and urging the strap from said slot through said slot end.

2. The tool of claim 1 wherein means are provided on said shaft end for cutting the strap as a result of said manual torqueing.

- 3. The tool of claim 1 wherein said stripping means is slidably mounted on said shaft end.

4. The tool of claim 1 wherein said stripping means comprise a collar on said shaft end having an inside cross section larger than the outside cross section of said strap-engaging means permitting selective movement of said collar to about said strap-engaging means.

5. The tool of claim 1 including means for biasing said stripping means away from said strap-engaging means.

6. The tool of claim 1 wherein said stripping means com prises a collar having a first end portion slidably carried on said shaft end and a second end portion adapted to movably fit about said strap-engaging means for engaging strap extending through said slot.

7. The tool of claim 1 wherein said handle means comprises a rod extending radially to said torque shaft.

8. The tool of claim 1 further including a coil spring coaxially on said shaft between said strap-engaging means and said stripping means for biasing said stripping means axially away from said strap-engaging means slot.

9. The tool of claim 1 further including cutting edge means on said strap-engaging means for cutting said strap as a result of said manual torqueing. A

10..The tool of claim 1 wherein said stripping means includes an externally rough element providing facilitated manipulation for urging said strap from said strap-engaging means slot. 

1. A tool for removing strap from encircling relationship about a strapped object, said tool comprising: a torque shaft having an end; strap-engaging means on said end defining a slot having an end opening lengthwise of said shaft for receiving the object encircling strap edgewise therethrough; handle means on said shaft for providing a mechanical advantage in torqueing said shaft sufficiently to break the steel strap received in said slot and to wrap the broken strap onto said strap-engaging means thereby to draw the strap from said encircling relationship to the strapped object; and stripping means movably associated with said strap-engaging means for movement alongside said strap-engaging means parallel to said slot for engaging the strap outwardly adjacent said slot and urging the strap from said slot through said slot end.
 2. The tool of claim 1 wherein means are provided on said shaft end for cutting the strap as a result of said manual torqueing.
 3. The tool of claim 1 wherein said stripping means is slidably mounted on said shaft end.
 4. The tool of claim 1 wherein said stripping means comprise a collar on said shaft end having an inside cross section larger than the outside cross section of said strap-engaging means permitting selective movement of said collar to about said strap-engaging means.
 5. The tool of claim 1 including means for biasing said stripping means away from said strap-engaging means.
 6. The tool of claim 1 wherein said stripping means comprises a collar having a first end portion slidably carried on said shaft end and a second end portion adapted to movably fit about said strap-engaging means for engaging strap extending through said slot.
 7. The tool of claim 1 wherein said handle means comprises a rod extending radially to said torque shaft.
 8. The tOol of claim 1 further including a coil spring coaxially on said shaft between said strap-engaging means and said stripping means for biasing said stripping means axially away from said strap-engaging means slot.
 9. The tool of claim 1 further including cutting edge means on said strap-engaging means for cutting said strap as a result of said manual torqueing.
 10. The tool of claim 1 wherein said stripping means includes an externally rough element providing facilitated manipulation for urging said strap from said strap-engaging means slot. 